Career
Nassef Sawiris, the youngest of three entrepreneurial brothers, runs Orascom Construction Industries, Egypt's most valuable publicly-traded company. It was founded by their father, Onsi, in 1950. In September the company announced plans to invest $1.4 billion to build a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Iowa in order to supply corn belt farmers. Production is slated to start in 2015. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad called it the largest investment ever in the state; Orascom Construction Industries will receive a $100 million tax break. Last year, Sawiris hooked up with Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista's EBX Group to develop a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Brazil. Orascom Construction plans to split its fertilizer and construction divisions into two publicly-traded companies by the end of 2012. Sawiris also owns big stakes in cement giant Lafarge and cement producer Texas Industries.